Apparatus for purifying water.



W. B. BULL. APPARATUS I'OR PUEIFYING WATER. APPLICATION FILEDMAY 10, 1911.

$012,809. I Patented Dec. 2 1911.;

n at sm'rns Parana OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. BULL, F GHIQAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 CHLORIDE PROCESS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIPOBATION OF ILLINOIS.

arraanrus roa PURILFYING WAT R.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 26, 1911.

Application filed May in, 1911. Serial No. 626,310,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. BULL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Water, of which the following is a specification', reference being had to the 'accom panying drawing.

. My invention relates to the purification of water for potable purposes, and has especially to do with the production of a suit-- able coagulant and its application to the water to be purified.

It relates more particularly to the purification of water by the process described in my pending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 616 has for its object to provide an improved apparatus for practicing the process of my said application, althoughsuch' apparatus is 1, filed March 24-, 1911, and

not restricted in its use to carrying out such The process referred to contemplates the production of 'a solution of an iron compound capable of precipitation to form coagulating agent and includes-electrolysis in the production of the iron solvent. According to said process aj'gaseousproduct containing chlorin is produced by electrowater to be purified, and is either allowed to i precipitate by the action of the alkaline constituents of the water, or may be precipitated by theintroduction into the water of a suitable precipitant, such as the alkalinesolution formed incidentally to the electrolytic action. 1

The apparatus which forms the subjectmatter of this application is illustrated in thedrawing, which is a sectional view of an embodiment of my inventioniin simple form,

-' As therein shown,- 1 indicates an electrol ytic cell having an anode chamber 2 and a cathode chamber 3 separated by a porous diaphragm 4 of any suitable material. As shown, the upper end of the anode-chamber 2 is closed by a cover 5. 4 t

6 indicates an outlet pipe near the upper end of the anode chamber through which the the gas generated passes out, and 23 indicates a valved outlet-pipe near the bottom of said chamber through which the liquid contents thereof may be Withdrawn.

7 indicates the anode, Which is of Acheson graphite or other suitable chemically inert material, and. is placed in such position in the anode chamber as to be immersed wholly or partially in the liquid therein.

8 indicates the cathode, which may be of any suitable material. v

9 -10 indicate inlet pipes for-supplying the electrolyte to the anode and cathode chambers. In practice water is admitted through one of said pipes and a common salt solution throughthe other. Said pipes are provided with valves for regulating ,the flow therethreugh.

11 indicates a receptacle for the water to be purified, having a valved inlet-pipe 12 near the vbottom thereof, and an outlet-pipe 13 at the upper portion thereof.

14 indicates a funnel-shaped receptacle arranged Within the receptacle 11 and adapted to contain iron in comminuted form.

15 indicates 'a pipe leading from the upper portion of the cathode chamber to the receptacle 11, said pipe. having valves 16 and 25.

17 indicatesa branch pipe extending from the pipe 15-to a point over the receptacle 14: so that the'solution formed in-the cathode chamber may be dischargeddirectly into the receptacle 14. The pipe 17 is provided with a valve 18.

24 indicates a pipe for separately di s charging the solution formed in the cathode chamber, when desired. 19 indicates a mixing contain coke or other inert material, said r ceptacle having a rose 20-, or other water distrihuting device, at its upper end, connected with asupply pi e-21 so that ,water maybe introduced, prefiirably the'f'f ,r of a spray, at the .upper portion 0t said. chamber 19. The pipe (6v leading chamber'commiinicates with the chamber 19.

from the anode;

chamber adapted to The action of thel "electric current sup-' plied to the anode ,and'cathode is to effect the decomposition of the saline solution, a -gaseous product containing chlorin being formed in the anode chamber and rising through the liquid therein to the upper por tion of said chamber, the level of the liquid therein being considerably below the opening to the outlet-pipe Thelevel of the solutions in the anodeand cathode chambers minuted iron, which is actedupon to prov desire to secure by Letters Patent is;- c

product containing chlorin, separate means j for impregnating water with such gaseous indicated inthe drawing. If they water: is

' solutionvformed in the cathode chamber may -said application, this being accomplished to treatmentdor the recovery of the sub-. stances therein contained. By properly may also be used for gous processes.

is automatically regulated by transfusionthrough the porous diaphragm 4. The gas formed in the anode chamber passes out where it is taken up by the water suppliedv thereto, which becomes impregnated there-- with, forming a chlorin containing solution of greater or less strength, depending upon the relative volumes of chlorin and water passing through said chamber. This solution passes out of'the mixing chamber 19- through'a pipe 22 which communicates with the lower portion of the receptacle 14 so thatthe chlorin containing solution is caused to pass upward through the comduce an iron solution, which overflows into the water contained inthe receptaclell, as.

already sufiiciently alkaline to effect the precipitation of the iron salt in solution, the introduction of a further precipitating reagent is unnecessary, but if desired the beintroduced thereinto, as described in my by opening'eithe'r the valves 16 and 25, or l8.- -When the alkaline solution formed in the cathode chamber is not so used as aprecipitant, it may be removed by opening valve 24- and closing valve 25, and subjected regulating the strength of the chlorin con; taining solution and the rate of its flow thrbugh thecomminuted iron, a greater or less percentage of freejohlorin may beintroduced into the water to be purified, as hereinbeforesuggested. I

While the, apparatus described isdesigned more particularly for use in carrying out the process hereinbeforereferredwo, it

practicingother analo- That which I claim as m y invention, and

1. apparatus for purifyiigg water,- compr slng means for generatipgv a gaseous product, a, receptacle adapted to contain iron, means for conducting the impregnated water.through theiroii in said receptacle,

and a container .for the water to be purified arrangedgto receive the product formed ih sa1d,1ron-conta1n1ng receptacle,

I I I .r I

ceptacle.

conducting the/ gaseous product;

the combination of electrolytic means for generating a'- gaseous product contain ng chlorinyseparate means for impregnating water with such gaseous product, a recepthroughpipe 6 to the mixing chamber' 19,

tacleadapted to contain iron, means for receptacle to the action of the gas impregnated Water, and a container for, the water to be purified arranged to receive the product formed'in said iron-containing receptacle. 3. An apparatus forpurifying-water, comprising an electrolytic apparatus having an anode chamber, a chemically inert anode in said chamber, means for conduct-. ing the gaseous product-from said anode chamber and impregnating Water vtherewith, a receptacle adapted to contain iron,-

means for conducting the gas impregnated water'to saidiron-containing receptacle, and a water contamer'arranged to receive the product formed in said momcontammgreet/An apparatus for. purifying water, comprising an electrolytic cell having anode and cathode chambers, a chemically inert anodein s'aidanode chamber, means for con: ductingthe vgaseous product from the anode chamber and impregnating water therewith, an iron-containing receptacle, means for conducting the gas impregnated Water to said iron-containing receptacle, a; container for the Water to be purified adapted to receive the product formed in said iron-containing receptacle, and means forsubjecting the water to be purified to' the action of the solution-formed in the cathode chamber. An apparatus) for purifying water,

2..In an apparatus for purifying water,

, comprising an electrolytiqcell"havinganode and cathode chambers, a chemically'inert anode in said anode chamber, 1 means for from the anode chamber and impregna ing water therewith, an 'iron contzfininggbceptacle, means for conducting {the gas i pregnated waterto said iron-contai1iing receptacle, a con'taine for the.=water to be purified adapted to receide the product formedin said iron-oontainiiig receptacle, means ,for subjecting the water .to bepurified to the action' of the solution formed in the cathode chamber, andmeans ivherebylthe sol utio'n formed in the ca'thoderchamber may be separately removed. 4 r 7 WILLIAM B: BULL. Witnesses: c

. JOHN L. JAoKsoN,

MINNIE A. HUNTER; 

